IRELAND’S PLAY-OFF semi-final against Slovakia will be shown on national TV after RTÉ today confirmed that it had secured the rights to the game.
There had been doubts as to whether the match would be shown on free-to-air television. The play-off games are technically considered Nations League matches rather than Uefa European qualifiers, with only Sky Sports originally holding the rights to show the former.
If Ireland advance, RTÉ will also show the play-off final on 31 March, which could see the Boys in Green play away against either Northern Ireland or Bosnia, with a coveted Euro 2020 spot up for grabs.
The play-off semi-final in Bratislava, which kicks off at 7.45pm on Thursday 26 March, will see host Darragh Maloney joined by pundits Liam Brady and Didi Hamann, with George Hamilton and Ronnie Whelan on commentary.
The broadcaster has also confirmed coverage of the Irish Women’s Euro 2021 Qualifiers at home against Greece (Thursday 5 March, 7.00pm) and away against Montenegro on (Wednesday 11 March, 2.30pm), with RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player providing live coverage.
It has also been announced that ‘The Boys In Green,’ a two-part documentary on the Jack Charlton years, will air on RTÉ One, beginning on 9 March at 9.35pm.
According to RTÉ, the programme “tells the story of a nation coming of age on the football field and off it,” and will feature contributions from Tony Cascarino, John Aldridge, Mick McCarthy, Ronnie Whelan, David O’Leary, Jason McAteer, Kevin Sheedy and Stephen Staunton.
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Sold all else. With 6 nation’s being sold to sky , I will no longer pay licence scam.
@Willy Mc Entire: they’ll be itching to get you. Its lucky you’re posting anon though.
@Willy Mc Entire: RTE don’t even currently have the Six Nations rights, Virgin Media do…
@Willy Mc Entire: Sure, how else are RTE going to the salary of Tubs et all??
@Willy Mc Entire: Haven’t paid the TV licence scam since 1994, plenty of online groups to help inform you… if you need it.
@Robin Basstard: Not all heroes wear capes.
@Robin Basstard: ya Robin basstard ya.
@Willy Mc Entire: the licence scam is of another age and it can’t be justified it violates our right of free speech but the great liberals support it
@Willy Mc Entire: the licence scam is of another age and it can’t be justified
Stop paying gimps like Tubridy millions and get rights for matches please
Well done RTE
I might start to get interested in issues like this once Stephen Kenny becomes manager.
@Stephen: thanks Ste
@Stephen: you opened the article and left a comment. Looks like you’re pretty interested
Thank Jesus we’ve avoided the TV3/Virgin Media away game curse. Might have a chance of actually progressing now.
I think some common sense prevailed within UEFA in this case .
By the time the Ireland v Slovakia matches ( 2 legs) are due to be played .. they most likely will have to be played behind closed doors .. ie no supporters either home or away …
And it makes sense … otherwise Harris and HSE couldn’t defend calling off the Rugby match this coming weekend …
By the time time the Slovakian game has to be played in 4 weeks … there is likely to be a few hundred Corona virus cases here in Ireland by then .. if look at Italy a month ago they none as of yesterday they over 2000 cases
The entire EURO2020 Championship must now be in question …. I mean having 212 hosts cities across 12 countries from Dublin to Baku
, Rome to St.Petersburg …is now a complete public health nightmare
@XvSv: typo .. “12 host cities in 12 host countries”
@XvSv: it’s not a 2 legged affair… Its a one off game. But yes likely we’ll all be dead in 4 weeks time anyway!!
@Ray Ridge: Yes of course , I should have said 2 Phase qualification process . ..because if Ireland win then we have to play winners of Northern Ireland v Bosnia Herzegovina playoff game … in order to qualify for Euro2020 ..
At least RTE got it…
Of course we Ireland fans living in the 6 Counties will still not be able to watch it free to air (sad face emoji)
@Gary Donlan: I’m in the 6 counties meself. Got a Saor View freeview tv and its problem solved. It works off the old freeview aerial if you have one. Its ridiculous that they block RTE coverage on SKY. Bout the only thing worth watching on RTE and they block it.
@Mike Murray: Hmm. I’ve a BT Youview box,get rte and tg4 perfectly fine but these matches (along with Champions league etc) are always blocked.
@Gary Donlan: Nowtv has the bt sports channels and premier sports one and two but premier sports blocks the pro14 rugby and the Gaa. If your paying for it regardless of what platform you should get to view it imo.